Quincy Latimore will rejoin his old ball club in January (SMP Images / Ryan Schembri)

ADELAIDE - When the Adelaide Bite take the field in the New Year, they will be greeted by an old friend. Power-hitting left fielder Quincy Latimore will once again put on the Adelaide colours as he rejoins a team he last left after being defeated by the Perth Heat after the Inaugural Season ABL Championship Series.

The right-hander will arrive in Adelaide on the 30th of December to bolster an injury-depleated roster. The Pittsburgh Pirates minor-leaguer comes over to replace another Pirates farmhand - Justin Howard - who is heading back to the States for elbow surgery. Howard, who was the ABL Player of the Week for the December series against the Aces, will look to rehab and be ready to play when the Pirates open Spring Training.

Latimore boosted an impressive batting line during the 2010-11 season with the Bite. He was a combination of power and speed, hitting five homeruns, while batting .313. His twenty-five RBIs were good for third best on the team, while his five stolen bases led the 2010-11 squad. His performance in the ABL after that year was more evidence for a promotion in the Pirates ranks. Latimore was moved unto the Pirates AA Squad, the Altoona Curve, where he has spent the past couple of seasons manning the left fielder spot.

Quincy had a solid season last year with the Curve, where the 23-year old clubbed fifteen homeruns and knocked in seventy-one RBIs. He also stole ten bases and saw his strikeout numbers decline to his best mark since 2009.

Originally from Raliegh, North Carolina, Quincy Latimore was picked in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft and played rookie ball until 2010, his breakout year. With the A+ Bradenton Marauders, Latimore played in left field and smashed 19 home runs - including one in the club's first ever match - with 100 RBIs, earning a spot as a Florida State League post-season All-Star.

Latimore should slot right into the heart of the Bite batting order when he first plays against the Sydney Blue Sox at home in January. "Quincy adds some pop and stability to the middle of the order," Bite General Manager, Nathan Davison adds. "He comes into Adelaide after having a good couple of seasons in AA ball. He has familiarity with the league, the teams, and some of the pitching already. Not to mention he remains one of our most popular players."

Help welcome back Quincy when the Bite return home after the New Years and take on the Sydney Blue Sox at Norwood Oval on January 3-6.

This story was not subject to the approval of the Australian Baseball League or its clubs.